AN N-METHYL-D-ASPARTATE RECEPTOR ANTAGONIST DOES NOT PREVENT EYE-SPECIFIC SEGREGATION IN THE FERRET RETINOGENICULATE PATHWAY

Recent studies have shown that electrical activity, particularly that mediated by NMDA receptors, has a profound effect on the development o f specific neuronal connections. Blocking NMDA receptors in the ferret 's lateral geniculate nucleus prevents the segregation of retinal affe rents into ON and OFF sublaminae. We have now examined the involvement of NMDA receptors in the separation of afferents from the two eyes th at occurs in the lateral geniculate nucleus several weeks earlier in d evelopment. Blockade of NMDA receptor activity does not appear to inte rfere with this eye-specific segregation.